Self-locking paper box



Oct. 15, 19.35. NEUMANN 2,017,724

SELF LOCKING PAPER BOX Filed may 5, 1935 .NVENTOR,

, A TTORNE Y Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,017,724, SELF-LOCKING PAPER BOX Theodore L. Neumann, Dayton, Ohio Application May 3, 1933, Serial No. 669,236

d Olaims. (Cl. 229-41) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in self-locking paper boxes.

It is one of the principal objects of my invention to provide a paper box that may be instantly converted from a collapsed to a completely set up position in one operation, without touching the bottom, through pressure exerted upon two opposite corners of the box. The box being self locking, it may be set up in approximately one sixth the time required for the old style of folding box.

Because of the speed with whichit can be put in a material receiving state, the box lends itself admirably to those establishments where it is desired to pack different items such as various kinds of candy in a segregated manner in a shipping case. It may also be used to great advantage for enclosing hats and kindred articles.

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in the following specification, and

particularly set forth in the subjoined claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a Plan view of a box blank constructed to achieve the objects of my invention. Figure 2 is a top view of the box partially open as a result of the pressure applied to its opposite comers indicated by the arrows in that figure. Figure 3 is a top view of the box after it has been fully opened, and its bottom self-locked in its flat position, as a result of the continuation of pressure applied to the opposite corners of the box. Figure 4 is a view of the bottom of the box in its self-locked state. And Figure 5 is a side view of the box with two sides broken away to show the box in its partially'opened state.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the form of embodiment of 1m; invention therein disclosed, the numeral I designates a blank formed of a single piece of paper stock or other suitable material which is suitably cut and creased prelimi nary to being connected at its free ends. This blank has an elongated rectangular portion which is divided by transverse crease lines 2, 3, 4 and 5 into side walls 6, 8 and end walls I, I. Beyond the 45 crease line 5 is a narrow flap portion 8 by which the outer end wall I is attached to the outer side wall 6 of the blank in a conventional manner.

Referring to Figure 1, each side wall 6 is provided, beyond a crease line 9 parallel with the 5 outer longitudinal edge I 0 of the blank, with a bottom flap II that has a foot-shaped locking terminal portion I2. As illustrated in Figure 1, one side edge It of each bottom flap II has an irregularly curved contour, while its opposite 56 edge It inclines in a straight line to a rightangled recessed part I! that defines the heel portion of the locking terminal I2.

Beyond the crease line 9 each end wall I is provided with a bottom flap I 6, one side edge I! of which is a straight line continuation of the I transverse crease line. The opposite side edge It is a straight continuation of the transverse crease line to a point a short distance below the crease line 9, whence it inclines inwardly to a point a short distance to the left of a middle 10 recess I9 formed in the outer portion of. the'flap. Each recess I9 has opposite curved edges and a straight edge portion. A straight crease line 20 leads from the meeting point of the straight and curved portions of the recess to the meeting point 35 of the transverse and longitudinal score lines, at the left of the recess. The portion of each bottom flap I6 outside the crease line 20, constitutes a hinged flap 2| for connecting each bottom flap I6 to the edge portion M of its adjacent bottom flap II in a conventional manner when the outer side wall portion 6 of the blank is secured to the outer end wall portion I of the blank by the hinged flap 8.

After the above end, side wall and bottom flap 35 connections have been made, the box is in a collapsed state from which it may be almost instantly brought to a completely open or set up position by exerting pressure against two of its opposite corners, as, for example, those designated 30 by the arrows in Figure 2.

In their collapsed state the two pairs of connected bottom flaps, hinged along the score lines 20, 20 respectively, lie flat against the inner surfaces of the connected side and end walls of 35 the box, with the locking terminals I2, I2 in their extended positions. When pressure is exerted against the opposite comers designated by the arrows in Figure 2, the walls of the box approach a right-angled relationship with each other as the two bottom flap sections move outwardly into a horizontal plane. During the outward movement of these bottom flap sections, the outer ends of the locking terminals I2 on the flaps II automatically enter the recesses I 9 in the flaps I6 as illustrated in Figures 2 and 5. Now, when the box has been fully opened, the recessed portions 22 formed by the opposite curved edges in the flaps II, II, engage the inner ends of the recesses I9, while the heel portions of the terminals I2 engage each other, to firmly lock the box in its open position. (See Figures 3 and 4). Not only is the box self-locking, but the bottom flaps are v locked at several points to effect a firm connection of them.

It is thus seen that I have provided a paper box for candy, hats or other articles, which can be fully opened from a collapsed position to receive them, by pressure exerted against two opposite corners of the box without touching its bottom at all.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A self-locking box comprising hingedly connected side and end walls adapted to be brought from a collapsed state to a lull open position by pressure against two opposite corners of the connected walls, folding bottom sections for said box, integral with its side and end walls, alternate bottom sections formed with recessed edges, and toot-shaped locking tongues on the remaining bottom sections for entrance into said recesses, and also for engagement with each other at their heel portions, when the' box is fully opened, to firmly hold it in said position with its bottom securely closed.

2. A self-locking box comprising hingedly connected side and end walls adapted to be brought from a collapsed state to a lull open position by pressure against two opposite corners of the connected walls, bottom flaps hingedly secured to the end and side walls, the bottom flaps of the end walls being formed with recesses in their outer edges, locking terminals on the outer portions of the bottom flaps onthe side walls, the bottom flaps on the end walls being hingedly secured to the adjacent bottom flaps on the side walls to provide two bottom flap sections, each adapted to fold upon itseli against the inner surface of the side and end walls when the box is-in a collapsed state, and the locking terminals on the bottom sections adapted to automatically enter the recesses in the edges of the adjacent bottom sections, and also to engage each other, when the box is fully opened to firmly hold it in said position with the bottom securely closed.

3. A self-locking box comprising hingedly connected side and end walls adapted to be brought from a collapsed state to a full open position by 5 pressure against two opposite corners of the connected walls, a bottom fiap hingedly secured to each one oi said walls, the bottom flaps on the end walls being formed in their outer edges with recesses, foot-shapedterminals on the outer poro tions 01 the bottom fiaps oi the side walls, the bottom flaps on the end walls being hingedly secured to the adjacent bottom flaps on the side walls to provide two bottom flap sections, each adapted to fold upon itself against the inner surface 01' the side and end walls when the box is in a. collapsed state, and the toot-shaped terminals on the bottom sections adapted to automatically pass each other and enter the recesses in the adjacent bottom sections when the box is fully opened to firmly hold it in said position with the bottom securely closed. 4. A self-locking box comprising hingedly connected side and end walls adapted to be brought from a collapsed state to a full open position by pressure against two opposite corners of the connected walls, folding bottom sections for said box, integral with its side and end walls said end walls being hinged to the side walls, alternate bottom sections formed with recessed edges, locking tongues on the remaining bottom sections for automatic locking entrance into said recesses when the box is pressed to an open position, and projections on the recessed edges of the alternate bottom sections to lie under the said tongues to reinforce the box bottom when the box is fully opened.

THEODORE L. NEUMANN. 

